Heliconius hortense

Summary

Heliconius hortense, the Mexican longwing, Mexican heliconian or mountain longwing, is a heliconiid butterfly.

Mexican longwing
Ventral view
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Heliconius
Species:
H. hortense
Binomial name
Heliconius hortense
Guérin, [1844]
Synonyms
  • Heliconia hortensia
  • Heliconius hertensia

Description edit

The basic color of the uppersides of the wings is black, with a vertical white band on the forewings and an horizontal red band on the hindwings. The undersides are dark brown, with a white band on the forewings and a few red spots at the base of the hindwings. The adults feed on pollens and live up to six months. Females usually lay yellow eggs singly on shoots of various host plants, mainly Passiflora species, of which caterpillars primarily feed.

Distribution edit

Heliconius hortense occurs in eastern and western Mexico and from Honduras to Ecuador.[1][2]

Habitat edit

This species can be found in cloud forest from sea level to 2300 m.

References edit

  1. ^ Heliconius hortense at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. ^ Heliconius hortense, Butterflies of America
  • Mountain Longwing, Neotropical Butterflies
  • Butterflies of America
  • Tree of Life